Dahlia plant named ‘Karma Amora’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Karma Amora’, characterized by its upright plant habit; high production of flowering stems; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; decorative-type inflorescence form; large inflorescences with red-colored ray florets that resist fading; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KARMA AMORA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Karma Amora’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Lisse, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Dahlia plants withstrong flowering stems, large inflorescences and good postproductionlongevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination during thesummer of 2005 of Dahlia hybrida ‘Garden Miracle’, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with Dahlia hybrida ‘GH Lammerse’, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Lisse, The Netherlands in 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by cuttings since thespring of 2008 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, TheNetherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Karma Amora’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Karma Amora’ as a new and distinct Dahliaplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. High production of flowering stems.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Decorative-type inflorescence form.    -   6. Large inflorescences with red-colored ray florets that resist        fading.    -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Garden Miracle’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are taller than plants of ‘Garden        Miracle’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia are more freely branching and        produce more flowering stems than plants of ‘Garden Miracle’.    -   3. Plant of the new Dahlia and ‘Garden Miracle’ differ in leaf        color as plants of ‘Garden Miracle’ have bronze-colored leaves.    -   4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are longer-lasting        than inflorescences of plants of ‘Garden Miracle’.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘GH Lammerse’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘GH Lammerse’ differ in ray        floret color as plants of ‘GH Lammerse’ have purple-colored ray        florets.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are longer-lasting        than inflorescences of plants of ‘GH Lammerse’.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of the Dahlia hybrida‘Karma Royal Sea’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,440. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants ofthe new Dahlia differed from plants of ‘Karma Royal Sea’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more freely branching and        produced more flowering stems than plants of ‘Karma Royal Sea’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia flowered earlier than plants of        ‘Karma Royal Sea’.    -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘Karma Royal Sea’ differed in        ray color as plants of ‘Karma Royal Sea’ had deep red-colored        ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of the Dahlia hybrida‘Karma Thalia’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,406. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahlia differed from plants of ‘Karma Thalia’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more freely branching and        produced more flowering stems than plants of ‘Karma Thalia’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘Karma Thalia’ differed in ray        color as plants of ‘Karma Thalia’ had red purple-colored ray        florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering stems of ‘Karma Amora’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Karma Amora’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations and measurements describeplants grown during the late summer and early autumn in ground beds inan outdoor nursery in Lisse, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 29° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 6° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one timeabout three weeks after planting. Plants were three months old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘Karma Amora’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Dahlia hybrida ‘Garden Miracle’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Dahlia hybrida ‘GH Lammerse’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten to twelve days at            soil temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures about            20° C. to 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 12 to 14 days at soil            temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures about 20° C.            to 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at soil temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures about            20° C. to 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 days            at soil temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures about            20° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.        -   Tubers.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 22 cm. Texture:            Corky. Color: Close to 199B, actual color depends on actual            soil composition.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; narrow inverted            triangular plant form; freely basal branching with about            eight primary lateral branches developing per plant; dense            and bushy appearance; good production of flowering stems;            inflorescences held above the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 100 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 50 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm to 40 cm. Diameter:            About 3 cm. Internode length: About 5 cm to 14 cm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about            10° from vertical. Color: Close to 144A tinged with close to            187A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple or compound with three or five            leaflets per leaf.        -   Leaf length, simple leaves.—About 9 cm.        -   Leaf width, simple leaves.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Leaf length, compound leaves with three leaflets.—About 15            cm.        -   Leaf width, compound leaves with three leaflets.—About 13            cm.        -   Leaf length, compound leaves with five leaflets.—About 25            cm.        -   Leaf width, compound leaves with five leaflets.—About 18 cm.        -   Shape, simple leaves or leaflets.—Ovate.        -   Apex, simple leaves or leaflets.—Acuminate.        -   Base, simple leaves or leaflets.—Attenuate.        -   Margin, simple leaves or leaflets.—Serrate; sinuses            divergent.        -   Venation pattern, simple leaves or leaflets.—Pinnate,            reticulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces, simple leaves or            leaflets.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves or leaflets,            upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing and fully expanded            leaves or leaflets, lower surface: Darker than 191A.        -   Petioles.—Length, simple leaves: About 1 cm. Length,            compound leaves with three leaflets: About 2.5 cm. Length,            compound leaves with five leaflets: About 5 cm. Diameter,            simple leaves or leaflets: About 4 mm. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces, simple leaves or leaflets: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, simple leaves or leaflets: Upper surface: Close to            153A tinted with close to 183B. Lower surface: Close to            148B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Hemispherical            decorative-type inflorescences with ray and disc florets            developing acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright; freely            flowering habit with typically about 88 inflorescences            developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; plants begin            flowering about 80 days after planting; flowering continuous            during the summer and autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            inflorescences maintain good substance for about 16 days on            the plant and for about seven days as a cut flower;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About            2.3 cm. Shape: Oblate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Towards the base, close to 144A; mid-section, close to 144A            and 183A; towards the apex, close to 153A.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth (height).—About 6.8 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Receptacle height.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Receptacle color.—Close to 153A.        -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About            130 arranged in about 16 whorls. Length: About 6.8 cm.            Width: About 2.8 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Initially upright to            roughly perpendicular to the peduncle, reflexing with            development. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 187B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 187C; towards            the base and along the veins, close to 4C. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 45A; color does not fade with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 45B;            along the veins, close to 72B; color does not fade with            development.        -   Disc florets.—Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About twelve, inconspicuous. Length: About 9 mm. Diameter:            About 0.3 mm. Shape: Tubular; apex dentate. Aspect: Mostly            upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature: Apex:            Close to 166A. Mid-section: Close to 17A. Base: Close to 1C.            Color, mature: Apex: Close to 17B. Mid-section: Close to            17A. Base: Close to 1C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About eight arranged            in a single whorl. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 146A tinted with close to 187B.            Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 14 cm to 20 cm.            Length, fourth peduncle: About 12 cm. Length, seventh            peduncle: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength:            Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 144A tinted with close to 183A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets            only: Quantity per disc floret: Five. Filament length: About            1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to 1D. Anther length: About            3 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 23B.            Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 21B.            Gynoecium, present on ray and disc florets: Quantity per            floret: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape:            Lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to 2B. Style length: About            3 mm. Style color: Close to 1C. Ovary color: Close to 178C.            Fruits: Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 200A. Seeds: Quantity per            fruit: About 25. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Color: Close to 200A.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Karma Amora’ asillustrated and described.